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As some of you may be aware, the individual who has been creating a disruption off campus has returned from time to time this past week to the area outside of the campus gates. Each time, our Office of Public Safety has alerted NYPD, in light of the concerns for the safety of the community, use of highly disruptive sound amplifier equipment, and repeated parking violations, among other reasons. Additionally, earlier this week, there was an altercation involving a second non-QC-affiliated individual outside the gates of the college. Public Safety intervened and contacted the NYPD, who arrived quickly, and who currently have the matter under review.
As previously stated, the NYPD has confiscated the individual’s megaphone on more than one occasion. We have been informed by the NYPD that court summonses have been issued. The individual has been denied access to the campus, consistent with college and university protocols. As the individual is standing and speaking off campus and is not a member of the QC community, the law limits us in our ability to engage further. Public Safety Director Deborah Huggins together with Public Safety officers and other college administrators are in daily contact with the NYPD and are carefully monitoring the situation. We have stationed additional personnel at the gate and will continue to involve the NYPD as appropriate.
Whenever faiths, races, ethnicities, abilities, gender, and the sexual orientation of members of our community are hatefully disparaged, we must speak up and affirm Queens College’s place as an institution where all groups are valued and respected. We firmly stand up for those values as doing so is essential to our mission. We have consistently advocated for awareness of how hate speech can escalate into wrongful conduct and is harmful in its own right. We will continue to do everything within our power to ensure the safety and well-being of our community. The Office of Compliance and Diversity is working on implementing programming to reinforce our shared values, and Hillel Director Jenna Citron has initiated important activities as well. Announcements will be forthcoming. Queens College provides support to students through Counseling Services and to faculty and staff through CUNY’s employee assistance provider, CCA (company code: CUNY).
If you have any concerns, please reach out to the Office of Compliance and Diversity at TitleIX@qc.cuny.edu. We are here to support you.
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